Relative Clauses in Languages of the Americas
A typological overview
Editors
| Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
| University of Sonora
Patterns of relative clause formation tend to vary according to the typological properties of a language. Highly polysynthetic languages tend to have fully nominalized relative clauses and no relative pronouns, while other typologically diverse languages tend to have relative clauses which are similar to main or independent clauses. Languages of the Americas, with their rich genetic diversity, have all been under the influence of European languages, whether Spanish, English or Portuguese, a situation that may be expected to have influenced their grammatical patterns. The present volume focuses on two tasks: The first deals with the discussion of functional principles related to relative clause formation: diachrony and paths of grammaticalization, simplicity vs. complexity, and formalization of rules to capture semantic-syntactic correlations. The second provides a typological overview of relative clauses in nine different languages going from north to south in the Americas.
[Typological Studies in Language, 102] 2012. xiii, 307 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
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map | pp. vii–viii
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IntroductionBernard Comrie and Zarina Estrada-Fernández | pp. ix–xiv
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part i. Diachrony, typology, and theory
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Toward a diachronic typology of relative clauseT. Givón | pp. 1–26
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The evolution of language and elaborateness of grammar: The case of relative clauses in creole languagesTania Kuteva and Bernard Comrie | pp. 27–46
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Some issues in the linking between syntax and semantics in relative clausesRobert D. Van Valin Jr. | pp. 47–64
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Part II. Uto-Aztecan
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Relative clauses and nominalizations in YaquiAlbert Álvarez González | pp. 65–96
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On relative clauses and related constructions in YaquiLilián Guerrero | pp. 97–126
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From demonstrative to relative marker to clause linker: Relative clause formation in Pima BajoZarina Estrada-Fernández | pp. 127–146
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Functional underpinnings of diachrony in relative clause formation: The nominalization-relativization connection in Northern PaiuteTim Thornes | pp. 147–170
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Part III. Elsewhere in the Americas
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Clauses as noun modifiers in Toba (Guaycuruan)María Belén Carpio and Marisa Censabella | pp. 171–190
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Between headed and headless relative clausesPatience Epps | pp. 191–212
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Relative clauses in SeriStephen A. Marlett | pp. 213–242
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Relative clauses in Gavião of RondôniaDenny Moore | pp. 243–252
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Relative clauses in Yucatec Maya: Light heads vs. Null domainRodrigo Gutièrrez-Bravo | pp. 253–268
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Questionable relativesMarianne Mithun | pp. 269–300
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Language and language family index | pp. 301–302
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Name index | pp. 303–304
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Subject index | pp. 305–308
“This is a very useful volume, with chapters from diverse theoretical perspectives that are especially notable for their wealth of data, detailed and rigorous analyses, and careful attention to the typological implications of the materials.”
Jane H. Hill, The University of Arizona
“This book is undoubtedly a welcome and significant contribution to the field of relative clauses focusing on indigenous languages in the Americas. The cross-linguistic coverage of the volume provides valuable and first-hand data for typological studies as well as for the knowledge of relative clauses of each language discussed in it.”
Claudine Chamoreau, CNRS (SEDYL-CELIA)
Cited by
Cited by 8 other publications
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Chamoreau, Claudine & Zarina Estrada-Fernández
Cristofaro, Sonia
Green, Clarence
Kuteva, Tania, Bernd Heine, Bo Hong, Haiping Long, Heiko Narrog & Seongha Rhee
Overall, Simon E. & Katarzyna I. Wojtylak
Shibatani, Masayoshi
Zariquiey, Roberto, Masayoshi Shibatani & David W. Fleck
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 24 may 2022. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
Subjects & Metadata
Linguistics
BIC Subject: CFK – Grammar, syntax
BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General